Landon Donovan, world-renowned US Soccer Champion and author of Landon: A Memoir in conversation with Dr. Michelle Craske, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, and of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Kevin Love Fund Centennial Chair, and Director of the Anxiety and Depression Research Center at UCLA

You may think you know Landon Donovan―but you don’t. As one of the most decorated players in US soccer history, he knows many recognize his greatest triumphs, but far fewer understand his deepest struggles. Behind the legendary #10 jersey and a dazzling career, he grappled with finding peace―both on and off the pitch. In this unflinchingly honest autobiography, Donovan shares his tumultuous journey through the rise of US soccer and his battles with depression.Growing up as a twin in California, the son of an absent father and a single mother, Donovan was introduced to soccer at a young age by his half-brother Josh. By five years old, he was maniacal about playing―and winning―against players twice his age. When Donovan scored, he reveled in the attention he never received at home. Soccer offered him a golden ticket, and as soon as he could, he was off. From the US U-17 men’s national team to the 2000 Olympics to multiple World Cups, Donovan built an enviable career―winning six MLS championships, experiencing an epic stint with LA Galaxy where he played alongside David Beckham, and netting a historic extra-time winner against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup. His impact was so profound that when Donovan retired, Major League Soccer renamed its Most Valuable Player award in his honor. But even with all his achievements, peace was hard to find off the pitch. The US team’s loss at the 2006 World Cup haunted him and led to the first of three bouts of serious depression.Landon is a must-read for soccer fans and anyone navigating their own mental health journey. More than a sports memoir, it’s a powerful testament to resilience, identity, and the pursuit of self-acceptance. Through his struggles and triumphs, Landon Donovan shows us that no matter where you start, becoming the person, you want to be is always possible.

Bios:

Landon Donovan is widely regarded as the most decorated and influential male player in U.S. soccer history. He is known for his creative attacking play and unmatched records with both the LA Galaxy and the U.S. Men’s National Team, as well as spells abroad with Everton and Bayern Munich. he cemented his legacy through iconic moments at the World Cup and multiple domestic and international titles. Donovan’s talent and leadership helped shape American soccer and set the standard for future generations.

Off the field, Donovan has remained deeply connected to the game. He is a trusted studio analyst for Fox Sports, covering the sport’s biggest tournaments, and has also taken on coaching and executive roles, in the NWSL and abroad. Additionally, he recently released his own book Landon: A Memoir that was listed #1 on USA Today’s Best Selling Non-Fiction category and #10 overall.

Michelle G. Craske, PhD, is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles.  Dr. Craske is best known for her foundational contributions to the study of fear learning and extinction, particularly as they relate to the development and optimization of exposure-based treatments. Her work has helped redefine how anxiety disorders are conceptualized, moving the field beyond symptom reduction toward mechanistic, learning-based models of change. Her more recent work targets reward related processes in relation to anhedonia, that has informed new treatment approaches. She has been a pioneer in translating basic science findings into clinical interventions and her research has influenced treatment approaches across a wide range of psychological problems.

Throughout her career, Dr. Craske has secured extensive research funding as a Principal Investigator from major national and international agencies, including the National Institute of Mental Health, the Wellcome Trust, and DARPA. She has led large, multi-site and interdisciplinary projects, including center grants and long-term international collaborations.

Dr. Craske’s scholarly output is broad and influential, encompassing over 650 peer-reviewed journal articles, reviews, and book chapters, as well as books and treatment manuals. Her work is among the most highly cited in psychology and psychiatry, and she has been repeatedly recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate/Web of Science. In addition to her research contributions, she has played a major role in shaping the field through editorial leadership, during her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Behaviour Research and Therapy and holding senior editorial positions at leading journals such as Psychological Bulletin and Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Beyond research, Dr. Craske has provided extensive academic and professional leadership. She has previously served as Vice Chair of the UCLA Department of Psychology, co-directs UCLA’s Depression Grand Challenge, and held executive and presidential roles in major professional organizations, including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology. She has also contributed to national and international mental health policy through service on DSM-IV and DSM-5 committees and other advisory bodies.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including multiple honorary doctorates, major scientific awards, and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia.